epitome English · revision 1904

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /əˈpɪt.ə.mi/, /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/ ''(UK)''; /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/, /iˈpɪt.ə.mi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|epitome|t=abridgment]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ἐπιτομή|tr=epitomḗ|t=abridgment, a cutting on the surface]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''epitémnein'' “to cut short”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[af|grc|ἐπι-|τέμνω|tr1=epi-|tr2=témnō|t1=into, on|t2=to cut]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) Barnhart and Etymonline say it came partly through Middle French ''épitomé''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[tome]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A brief statement of the chief points of a literary work; an abridgment or abstract (1529; 1520 in Merriam-Webster).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the condensed record of a book came the idea of something that represents a larger whole in miniature (1607),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) and so of a person or thing that typifies a whole class,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) the sense now most common.^(AHD)^(RHWU) The derived verb [[epitomize]] went the same way, from “to abridge” (1596) to “to embody, typify” (1628).^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1520 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1529 – a summary of a written work.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1596 – ''epitomize'', to abridge.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1607 – something representing a whole in miniature; a typical example.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1628 – ''epitomize'', to typify.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or thing that is a typical or ideal example of a class or quality; an [[embodiment]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A brief summary of a book or article; an [[abstract]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(in epitome)'' In brief or miniature form.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[epitomist]]

+ * [[epitomize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tome]]

+ * [[anatomy]]

+ * [[atom]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Wiktionary notes that the use of ''epitome'' to mean “the height, the best” is considered incorrect by some, who prefer [[pinnacle]].^(Wiktionary) Random House lists ''embodiment'', ''exemplification'' and ''quintessence'' as synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}